For fifty years, with reiteration ever more frequent, sometimes with rich elaboration, sometimes with brief and simple allusion, he poured this message into the ears of a listening people.

His words passed into text-books, and became the first declamations of school-boys.
They were in every one's mouth.

They sank into the hearts of the people, and became unconsciously a part of their life and daily thoughts.

When the hour came, it was love for the Union and the sentiment of nationality which nerved the arm of the North, and sustained her courage.

That love had been fostered, and that sentiment had been strengthened and vivified by the life and words of Webster.